Getting nervous

I really need some advice or just reassurance. Last week I had Rebel in the garden for a pee & a play as Saxon was sleeping inside. Anyway a teen came out of the neighbours very drunk & loud. He tried to play with Rebel while booming out of him how he'd had staffies & pitbulls his whole life. Rebel who is used to gentle quiet interactions was scared of this loud, stumbling, intoxicated person. I told him he was scaring my puppy & to quietly give him a treat & leave the garden. The guy apologised & did so but the damage was done. Rebel is now acting nervous of other people. We meet my friends today for Reb to play with their dog at park. He had fun with the kids & dog but wouldn't let my two friends stroke him. I'm heartbroken as he was so confident before. Will my boy forget this & be ok with meeting people again? Or with staffs being so sensitive will this stay with him? I'm really upset as I've kept all his socialising positive & hate seeing him worried. I don't want to push him but want to put it right. Should I just get people we meet to crouch down with treats & see if he approaches

Keep letting him meet nice people, let them give him treats and play with him and, above all, don't worry at all when there are others around. Your worry will be picked up by him and he'll feel he needs to be concerned if you are. In fact, go to the opposite and be super happy. With people you know, give them a hug, laugh, whatever you can.

With a little help I'm sure he'll be fine

Thanks so much Liz. I'm just so sad to see my brave little boy being nervous, he used to approach everyone with waggy tail & wiggly bum. It would be awfully if one stupid person ruined our carefully socialisation

I'd give him more human socialisation but don't overwhelm him with people, I guess he just needs to learn that most people are as happy to see him as he is them

I hope he gets back to his confident self

Laura,don't worry too much,rebel is still a pup and has so much more to learn and cope with on his way to being an adult,but in the end I am sure he will cope with everything that is thrown at him.
He will learn that not everyone he meets are nice people,and not everyone will crouch down and offer him treats,he will also learn that not all people love dogs.Don't go thinking what happened has set back all the good things you have taught him,it has just made him a little more cautious of people around him and he now knows that everyone he meets are not always nice.Sorry to say it but as you know it's a fact of life.But I promise you Laura as rebel grows into maturity he will be able to pick the nice from the nasty at a glance,even quicker than you can.

Can only agree . Mias always sensed the bad from the good .

Thanks so much Kit & Crystal. I feel better now about it. If Saxon doesn't like someone I trust his judgement

Always laura

Someone at the park tried to stroke Rebel & he went behind me. The lady said, what's happened to your puppy, I felt so bad like she probably thinks I'm bad to him